Eco Factor: Energy scavenging microbes use mud for electricity, ready for use in microbial fuel cells.

The latest research conducted at the University of Massachusetts could herald new fuel cell designs that generate electricity from mud. Geobacter, a microbe that generates electricity when placed in mud and wastewater, is about 20,000 times finer than a human hair and according these researchers it has a unique ability to transfer electrons which enables it to extract energy from biomass.

Since the evolution of the strain, the organism is now eight times more efficient in generating electricity after the research team shocked it with a 400-mW current. The shock forced it to transfer more electrons and after five months, the organism was able to work eight times more efficiently.

Apart from being a great introduction for microbial fuel cells, Geobacter can also be used to treat home wastewater, while providing energy to power the house.